Jadran Poreč Claim Long-Awaited First Win, Upsetting Novalja and Reigniting Hope at Stadion Veli Jože
By the time the final whistle pierced the autumn air at Stadion Veli Jože, Jadran Poreč players and supporters alike wore the cathartic relief of a team that had, at last, remembered what victory felt like. A 2-0 triumph over Novalja—the club’s first league win of the season—breathed life into a campaign that, until Saturday, had been defined by frustration, near misses, and slow unraveling.
For Jadran Poreč, rooted to 15th place in the Croatia Third NL - Istok, three points after six matches told the story—a ledger filled with zero wins, three draws, three losses, and only sporadic hints at potential. Novalja, meanwhile, arrived as a side on steadier footing, mid-table with nine points, buoyed by a resounding 3-0 victory just a week prior. On paper, the visitors looked to extend the gap; on grass, the day belonged to the hosts.
Early Intensity, Newfound Belief
From kickoff, an undeniable urgency pulsed through Jadran Poreč. Aware their margin for error had vanished, the hosts pressed high, denied Novalja time to settle, and created a string of early half-chances. It was not long before pressure blossomed into genuine threat. In the 18th minute, Poreč’s central midfielder split the lines with a crisp through ball, finding their forward in stride. The resulting strike forced Novalja’s goalkeeper into a sprawling save—the warning sign that a breakthrough felt imminent.
That breakthrough arrived on the half-hour. A sweeping move down the left saw Jadran’s winger beat his marker and whip a teasing cross into the box. Amid a tangle of defenders, the ball ricocheted kindly to Poreč’s striker, who pounced from close range. The net bulged, and with it, a weight seemed to lift—players mobbed the goal scorer in a release of collective tension.
Novalja Falter, Poreč Stand Tall
Trailing for the first time in three matches, Novalja struggled to assert their recent attacking verve. Their front line, which had dazzled Nehaj in a 3-0 rout only seven days earlier, encountered a Poreč backline playing with new conviction. The home side’s defenders closed ranks, intercepting crosses and forcing Novalja’s playmakers into speculative efforts from distance.
As the first half ebbed, Novalja’s frustrations boiled over. A misjudged tackle near the touchline brought the match’s first yellow card—a microcosm of their growing agitation as the clock ticked toward halftime.
Second-Half Turning Point
Novalja opened the second half with renewed intent, committing numbers forward and pinning Poreč in their own third. The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the 63rd minute: capitalizing on a rare counterattack, Jadran Poreč surged upfield. Their winger, a persistent thorn all afternoon, darted down the right channel, cutting inside and threading a deft pass to the top of the area. The finish was clinical—a first-time shot slotted low inside the far post, doubling the hosts’ lead and igniting the stands.
From there, anxiety briefly threatened to envelop Poreč. Novalja summoned a late flurry, their best chance coming in the 75th minute—a header flashing just wide after a well-worked corner. But the home defense, anchored by a resolute center-back pair, refused to yield.
Shifting Tides in the Table
At the final whistle, Jadran Poreč’s players lingered on the field, savoring a result that lifts them to six points—still perilously positioned, but suddenly only a single good run from mid-table security. For Novalja, this defeat stalls their momentum, keeping them at nine points, now glancing nervously at the congestion below.
This match also shifts the complexion of their head-to-head narrative: Novalja had edged past their hosts in recent seasons, but this confident Jadran performance hints at a potential rivalry renewed.
What’s Next
For Jadran Poreč, Saturday’s victory represents more than a statistical correction—it is a testament to resolve after weeks of adversity. The challenge now: to transform a single, stirring win into a foundation for survival. Next week’s fixtures loom as a chance to further close the gap on the pack above.
Novalja, conversely, must regroup swiftly or risk slipping into a familiar mid-table drift. Their attacking quality will demand a response; how they react to today’s setback may well define the trajectory of their season.
The fall campaign is far from settled in the Third NL - Istok. But if October 11 proved anything, it is that hope, like form, can turn on a single afternoon. At Stadion Veli Jože, Jadran Poreč have given themselves—and their supporters—a reason to believe again.